Another year, another wonderful Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo and I’ll be there! It’s the 14th anniversary of the show and I haven’t missed one yet. If you’re headed to the show, I hope to see you there!
If you want to get your copies of Avengers: No Road Home, Champions, Wayward, Dungeons & Dragons, Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons, or any of my other work signed, here’s where you can find me:
BIG FOUR BUILDING – ARTIST ALLEY TABLE P-15
I’ll also have a limited number of free Stone Star posters to give away!
In addition to being at my table, I’m also on a panel on Saturday:
Saturday April 27th
WRITING FOR COMICS AND PROSE ROUND TABLE
1:30 pm in BIG 4 CREATOR GUEST STAGE
Join a special gathering of amazing writers as they discuss their craft and aim to inspire the next generation of authors. Featuring Jim Zub (Avengers: No Road Home), Ray Fawkes (Black Hammer ’45), Matt Kindt (X-O Manowar), Ed Brisson (X-Force), Ash Maczko (Squarriors) and author SM Beiko.
After announcing and launching STONE STAR, our surprise brand new creator-owned series from comiXology Originals on Wednesday, Max Dunbar and I are surprise guests at WonderCon in Anaheim this weekend to celebrate the launch and see fans! If you’re headed to the show, come to BOOTH #2151 for free STONE STAR swag!
Friday, March 29
2:00-3:00pm Comixology Originals: What’s Next
The biggest news in comics is comiXology’s exclusive digital content program: comiXology Originals. Now you can join comiXology’s head of content Chip Mosher and a surprise all-star cast of comic creators to get the scoop on an all-new, yet-to-be-announced, comiXology Originals series direct from the creators making it! They’ll wow the crowd with stories on the process of bringing creator-owned comics to life and what it’s like pushing the envelope with digital comics and beyond. Moderated by comiXology’s Kiersten Wing.
3:30-4:00pm FREE Limited Edition Stone Star prints to be given away at BOOTH 2151
Saturday, March 30
12:30-1:30pm Breaking in and Staying in Comics
Like with any creative field, comics is a tough business to break into, and possibly tougher to stay in, but fear not! This panel of comics veterans from across the creative and administrative spectrum of comics are here to help! See this panel of comics superstars including Jim Zub(Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons), Max Dunbar(Champions, Teen Titans), Chip Mosher(comiXology head of content), Ivan Salazar(comiXology PR and events), and more surprise panelists as they teach you the tricks of the trade to break in and stay in comics, possibly for life. Moderated by comiXology’s Kiersten Wing.
2:00-3:00pm FREE Limited Edition Stone Star prints to be given away at BOOTH 2151
5:00-6:00pm Signing at IDW Publishing – BOOTH #1109
Sunday, March 31
2:00-3:00pm Comics 101: Making Sense of the World of Comics
Just getting into comics but not sure where to start? This panel can help! Hear from some of the industry’s best and brightest including Jim Zub(Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons), Max Dunbar(Champions, Teen Titans), Mark Sable(The Dark, Graveyard of Empires), Biserka Stringer Horne(comics editor and facilitator), Ivan Salazar(comiXology PR and events), and more special panelists as they impart their vast comic knowledge by personally recommending series just right for you! See the eternal comics fans at comiXology along with a riveting panel of comics superstars as they become your guides through the awesome world of comics! Moderated by comiXology’s Kiersten Wing.
3:30-4:00pm FREE Limited Edition Stone Star prints to be given away at BOOTH 2151
Jim’s comics and graphic novels are available through your local comic or book retailers, Amazon, Bookshop, and many other online retailers. For digital comics, check out Jim’s Amazon page. Find a comic shop in North America by clicking HERE.
CREATOR-OWNED
Glitterbomb Vol. 1: Red Carpet
(issues #1-4)
Farrah Durante is a middle-aged actress hunting for her next gig in an industry where youth trumps experience. Her frustrations become an emotional lure for something horrifying out beyond the water…something ready to exact revenge on the shallow celebrity-obsessed culture that’s led her astray. The entertainment industry feeds on our insecurities, desires, and fears. You can’t toy with those kinds of primal emotions without them biting back…
Kaydon Klay wants to be famous. She wants it more than anything else she’s ever known. The dream is hers for the taking, all she has to do is embrace the national tragedy that’s put her in the spotlight…
A young boy named Colby Reynolds searches for meaning in the world around him and discovers a place where dreams can come true, if he’s willing to pay the price. Along the way he’ll see sights he’s never fathomed and encounter hidden truths about himself he’ll wish he never knew.
Makeshift Miracle Vol. 2
The Boy Who Stole Everything
Colby has fallen into a surreal realm of dream and imagination in his search for answers about Iris, the strange girl who fell into his life from out of the blue. What he discovers about the link between them will change both their lives and leave one of them with the ultimate decision of life or death. The hit online comic concludes in a beautiful graphic novel, perfect for teen readers and manga fans.
The acclaimed graphic mixtape returns for its second volume, turning up the volume with award-winning and revered creators such doing work like they’ve never done before and more from the all-new generation of cartoonists! Includes the first Skullkickers short story by Jim Zub and Chris Stevens.
The original, critically acclaimed graphic mixtape returns in a new volume, once again mashing up the next generation of cartoonists with the some of the medium’s finest in stories covering nearly every genre and style imaginable! Includes two short stories by Jim Zub.
Skullkickers Treasure Trove 1
Deluxe Hardcover
(issues #1-11 plus extras)
This oversized hardcover edition, loaded with extras and rarities, follows the Skullkickers through the first 11 issues of their cult hit comic series.
Beer, blood, and battle! The brawl to end it all! The Skullkickers are going out with an epic sword & sorcery war for the ages! The fan favorite Skullkickers story concludes in this gorgeous, oversized, hardcover edition collecting the fifth and sixth story arcs, along with lots of spiffy extras and rarities.
Skullkickers Vol. 1
1000 Opas and a Dead Body
(issues #1-5)
Introduction by Robin Laws
A pair of hard-headed mercenaries are entangled in a high-class assassination plot and nothing – werewolves, skeletons, or black magic demon spawn – will stop them from getting paid.
Skullkickers Vol. 4
Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island
(issues #18-23)
Introduction by John Kovalic
In this volume – Madcap island mayhem, tropical terror, savage stupidity, beach brawls, and jungle jams alongside revelations about the Skullkickers mythos.
Skullkickers Vol. 5
A Dozen Cousins and a Crumpled Crown
(issues #24-29)
Introduction by Erik Mona
The dwarf has been forcibly returned to his homeland and the deranged, diminutive denizens of Dwayre will make sure it’s a homecoming like no other. Get ready for compressed calamity, small skirmishes, truncated troubles, and pint-sized pugilism along with the history of dwarves (y’ know, the ‘short’ version).
The nomadic space station called Stone Star brings gladiatorial entertainment to ports across the galaxy. Inside this gargantuan vessel of tournaments and temptations, foragers and fighters struggle to survive.
A young scavenger named Dail discovers a secret in the depths of Stone Star and has to decide where his destiny lies – staying hidden in the shadows or in the searing spotlight of the arena.
A young warrior named Dail has been drawn into the ring and is trying to prove himself in the Grand Arena, but there are forces on the station determined to see him destroyed as revenge for his father’s fighting legacy.
Image Comics’s new supernatural sensation gets the deluxe treatment in this oversized hardcover collection that includes every stunning cover illustration, design sketches, and extensive essay material on Japanese culture and mythology by noted monster scholar Zack Davisson. Includes a special fold-out poster of the 5-part Wayward connected cover illustration from issues #6-10!
The new gods of Japan have arrived, and a clash with the myths of old will change the country forever. Image Comics’ supernatural sensation continues in this over-sized hardcover collection that includes every stunning cover illustration, design sketches, and extensive essay material on culture and mythology. Includes a special poster of the five-part WAYWARD connected cover illustration from issues #11-15!
The wayward are reunited at last, but is it too late? The Yokai have prepared a sacrifice that could change everything. This is war and Tokyo is the final battleground. Fate burns as the past and present clash in this exciting finale! This oversized hardcover collection includes every stunning cover illustration, design sketche, and extensive essay material on culture and mythology, as well as a special poster of the 5-part WAYWARD connected cover illustration from issues #26-30!
Rori Lane is trying to start a new life when she reunites with her mother in Japan, but ancient creatures lurking in the shadows of Tokyo sense something hidden deep within her, threatening everything she holds dear. Can she unlock the secrets of her power before it’s too late?
After the traumatizing finale of volume one, everything has changed for our supernatural teens. Who is Ohara and how does she fit into the great pattern of destiny and power that will change Japan forever? Jim Zub and Steve Cummings continue their supernatural spectacle that combines the camaraderie and emotion of shows like Buffy with Japan’s engaging culture and mythic monsters.
Designed by Jon Gilmour and based on the comic series by Jim Zub & Steven Cummings, Wayward is a cooperative game for 1 to 5 players. Each player takes on the role of a teenager with new supernatural abilities, fighting for survival and to prevent the Weave, the hidden threads of power and destiny that guide our world, from unraveling. Choose one of five different scenarios to play, each with unique rules, components, and win conditions, then work together to defeat swarms of Yokai and shut down their places of power!
The Earth has been stolen! The sky burns while mysterious cosmic objects crash down from above, wreaking havoc across the world – and the Avengers are the last line of defense between Earth and the mysterious forces threatening to tear it apart. It’s time to assemble almost everyone who has ever been an Avenger! Tension is high and peril is imminent, but there’s no option to surrender for the relentless Avengers!
The team that brought you AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER re-unite for an all-new weekly AVENGERS adventure! Night has fallen across the universe. Now seven Avengers – and one new addition – journey forth to bring back the light. But when the threat they face has destroyed even the Gods…will anyone make it home?
When the Red Skull unleashes a strange new force that strips heroes of their powers and threatens the entire world, the Avengers must turn to Tony Stark’s experimental new technology to save us all. Here come the Iron Avengers — Avengers Tech-On! AVENGERS TECH-ON is a sentai-inspired action-adventure series produced in partnership with Bandai Namco of Japan!
Head over heels in her devotion to the Joker, Arkham psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel gave up her career (and her sanity) to transform herself into the ultimate companion for crime’s clown prince – the mad moll Harley Quinn. Collects stories from Batman: Harley Quinn #1, Gotham Knights #14+30, Detective Comics #831+837, Joker’s Asylum II: Harley Quinn #1, Batman: Black & White #1+3, Legends of the Dark Knight 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, and Detective Comics #23.2.
These new tales of Batman explore unusual sides of The Dark Knight, including his relationship with Alfred during his early years as a crimefigher, his method of dealing with super-powered foes, and more. Collects Batman Legends of the Dark Knight #11-13 (print), and Legends of the Dark Knight 100-Page Super Spectacular #1.
Vampires. Aliens. Angry fish kings. Black Panther’s handpicked Agents of Wakanda can handle it all. And who better to lead them than the king of the world’s most technologically evolved country? Wakanda is making waves on the world map – and not everyone’s a fan. With General Okoye’s help, T’Challa will take Gorilla-Man, Ka-Zar and Wasp on a global fight for survival – to handle threats S.H.I.E.L.D. could only dream of!
Champions Vol. 4: Northern Lights
(issues #19-21, IFC: Champions #1-2)
Ironheart and the Unstoppable Wasp join the Champions at last! The team has grown but the mission stays the same – the Champions fight to make the world a better place for all! Writer Jim Zub (AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER) and artist Sean Izaakse (UNCANNY AVENGERS) reunite to push the Champions beyond their limits with any icy arctic adventure that will challenge everything they believe in! Don’t miss this first chapter of a new era of Champions – and the birth of a brand-new hero!
Champions Vol. 5: Weird War One
(issues #22-27, Annual #1)
The Champions’ mission in space (in INFINITY COUNTDOWN!) has left its mark, and the team tries to move on. A chance to bring life back to a desolate village might be just what they need – or push them even farther apart… While Ironheart and Amadeus Cho take major steps forward in their super hero journeys, Nova takes a step back. As the team faces a complicated and dangerous threat, Sam Alexander wonders: Is there a future for him with the Champions?
THE WORLD STILL NEEDS HEROES – AND THERE ARE HEROES ALL OVER THE WORLD! The Champions have gone global! The team has seen explosive growth under Ms. Marvel’s leadership, with super-powered members ready to answer the call in a dozen different countries. They’re saving people and improving lives across the planet while they inspire the next generation…But something sinister lurks beneath the surface of their expanded mission. It’s a dark secret that could destroy the team and everything they stand for!
Being a super hero isn’t easy, especially when you are a teenager! And the Champions all start feeling the pressure. The founding members are drifting apart as Kamala Khan questions what it means to be a hero, Viv deals with inner demons and Sam Alexander embarks on a quest to reclaim his Nova helmet.
Gail Simone and Jim Zub team up to bring together legendary warriors–Conan and Red Sonja! Spanning 3 eras in the lives of these classic characters, Conan and Red Sonja must become comrades to take down a twisted sorcerer-priest hell-bent on creating a new age in Hyborian warfare!
The serpent god Set plans to usher in an eternity of darkness, and only the chosen warriors across time and space have a hope of stopping him: Conan the Barbarian, Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes…and Moon Knight! In an unprecedented comics event, Robert E. Howard’s celebrated characters join forces along with one of Marvel’s most fascinating heroes, in an all-new saga built on lore from across time itself!
A new era for Conan! The barbarian has faced many foes since leaving Cimmeria, but the greatest challenge lies ahead! Conan finds himself in a city in the mystical Uttara Kuru, farther on the eastern border than he has ever traveled. And with a new city comes new dangers!
Conan’s quest in the Land of the Lotus! His march to Khitai has landed him as a prisoner of the imperial guard…but it will take more than chains to keep a Cimmerian down! Conan plans his escape, but what dreaded beasts lurk in the land of Khitai — and what new dangers will impede his quest to return the deadly Tooth of the Nightstar to its rightful master?
Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary Conan returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will Conan and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?
Conan is approached by a Thieves Guild to act as muscle for a heist in Shadizar, the barbarian agrees, hoping some mindless wanton violence will drown his pain after the death of his beloved Belit. Despite the mission being a success, the gang inadvertently unleash a trio of vengeful, dark and deadly spirits who guarded the treasure.
Go beyond your tabletop campaign-or fuel it with new material-in this trio of stories set in the boundless world of the Forgotten Realms. A new generation of heroes, led by a revived Minsc and Boo, rise to protect Baldur’s Gate, but they find themselves fighting evil forces throughout the Realms and beyond. Collects Legends of Baldur’s Gate, Shadows of the Vampire, and Frost Giant’s Fury.
The Heroes of Baldur’s Gate, led by fan-favorite characters Minsc and Boo, risk life, limb, and dignity to protect the city they love. Whether fending off the devilish forces of Avernus, rooting out a takeover of the city’s elite by sinister mind flayers, or confronting their abundant personal problems, Minsc, Boo, Delina, Krydle, and the others never stop adventuring! Collects Evil at Baldur’s Gate, Infernal Tides, and Mindbreaker.
Generations have passed since the original Heroes of Baldur’s Gate saved the city and the Realms. Now a new threat rises and an unlikely group of misfits are thrust into adventure with Minsc, the legendary Ranger do-gooder with a heart of gold, brain of lead, and hamster of pronounced wisdom.
Dungeons & Dragons Vol. 2
Shadows of the Vampire
(issues #1-5)
Minsc and Boo are back and things have never looked more dire, as mysterious forces draw the legendary ranger and his crew of adventurers to Ravenloft, the Realm of Terror, where they find themselves face to face with undead horrors in the land of eternal night!
Mighty giants stir across the land and, before their crushing might, nothing is safe. Badly injured after their encounters in the Demiplane of Dread and now lost in the frozen northern reaches of the Forgotten Realms, the Baldur’s Gate heroes will be tested like never before.
The Baldur’s Gate heroes return to the city at last, but their time adventuring in Ravenloft and the frozen northern reaches of the Realms has changed them. Each of them must face great trials before they’ll be ready to embrace their destiny.
A new D&D® campaign begins as the odyssey following the Baldur’s Gate heroes continues in this graphic novel adventure! Minsc and his friends are caught in the middle of devil-tainted corruption that has taken hold of Baldur’s Gate. Unraveling the secret of its source will take our heroes to unexpected places and threaten the sanctity of their very souls. Even if they survive this perilous journey, there will be hell to pay!
Back home at last, the Baldur’s Gate heroes are hoping for a warm welcome, but this isn’t the city they left behind! Insidious forces are at work, compromising their loved ones and penetrating the highest halls of power. No one can be trusted!
Welcome to Baldur’s Gate, a city of ambition and corruption. You’ve just started your adventuring career, but already find yourself embroiled in a plot that sprawls from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War!
See the world of Dungeons & Dragons come to life through the incredible craftwork of pop-up legend Matthew Reinhart! Traverse the land of Faerûn in an all-new way! Featuring innovative pop-up artistry and original illustrations, D&D: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book gives fans a unique experience of the world of D&D.
This tabletop roleplaying game boxed set blends the world of Dungeons & Dragons with mad narcissistic genius, Rick Sanchez’s power gaming sensibilities, nostalgia, sarcastic meta-commentary, and the reasons why people play D&D in the first place.
In this illustrated guide, you’re transported to the legendary and magical worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and presented with one-of-a-kind entries for some of its most sinister, foul, and memorable monsters. Featuring amazing illustrations and expert insights on some of D&D’s most dangerous monsters, the guide shines a spotlight on the beasts that scare, excite, and cause trouble for adventurers, from creatures that live underground, to those that dwell in the wilderness and boneyards or soar in the sky.
In this illustrated guide, you’re transported to the legendary and magical worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and presented with one-of-a-kind entries for different types of warriors, as well as the weaponry these fighters need for D&D adventuring. This guide includes detailed illustrations of the weapons, armor, clothing, and other equipment that fighters use, and offers the tools young, aspiring adventurers need for learning how to build their own characters.
In this illustrated guide, you’ll be transported to the mystical and magical worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and given a one-of-a-kind course on the dungeons and deathtraps. This book shines a spotlight down the dark, foreboding corners of the most infamous locations in the worlds of D&D. The perfect jumping-on point for young fans of fantasy looking to give D&D a try, the book also features prompts to encourage creative problem-solving skills in the dangerous situations you may find yourself in when on D&D adventures.
This illustrated guide transports new players to the magical world of Dungeons & Dragons and presents a one-of-a-kind course on the wizards, sorcerers, and other magic-makers for which the game is known. Featuring easy-to-follow and entertaining explanations of how spells are created and used in the game, along with original illustrations of the game’s essential magical characters, this book shines a spotlight on the mystical side of D&D.
This illustrated guide transports new players to the magical world of Dungeons & Dragons and presents a one-of-a-kind course on the unusual creatures, from the minuscule to the massive, that fill the fantastic world of the game. This guide features easy-to-follow and entertaining explanations of where to find each beast, their strange abilities and magical powers, and how to defeat them, along with amazing illustrations that will ignite your imagination.
No creature is more fascinating and terrifying to an adventurer than a dragon! This illustrated guide takes a deeper look at the abilities, personalities, and treasure collections of every major dragon type in Dungeons & Dragons.
Explore the geography, inhabitants, and legends of Dungeons & Dragons landscapes, from the challenges of the Forgotten Realms to spaces and places beyond, with this illustrated guide to adventurous travel.
Featuring amazing illustrations and expert insights, Artificers & Alchemy explores peculiar phenomena, sentient weapons, guardian gear, and the artificers who create these enchanted objects.
D&D Young Adventurer’s Collection Books 1-4 (softcover)
Immerse yourself in the fantastic world of Dungeons & Dragons! This collection introduces young fans to some of the exciting characters, locations, creatures, and magical elements useful for creating your own epic, adventure-filled D&D tales.
In this single-volume collection of all the creature profiles from the first six books in the Young Adventurer’s Guide series, you’ll find the wild and wondrous creatures that populate the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
When the long-warring Kree and Skrull races unite under a new Emperor and set course for Earth, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four stand in the way! But another alien race is working in the shadows — and soon the galaxy will face a far deadlier threat than its two most powerful empires combined!
When the united Kree/Skrull army targets Earth, Captain America sends out a call for heroes to meet its global invasion! Which Avengers will assemble to fight a war on three fronts?
In a world where incredibly powerful exalts stride forth to remake Creation in their image, legends will be forged and sacrifices will be made. Exalted is action-fantasy with a manga flare.
Dive into a steampunk fantasy story revealing the origin of the astonishing inventor known as Dreamfinder, and learn how one little spark of inspiration created the purple dragon called Figment!
The next great Disney adventure is here — starring one of Disney’s most popular characters! Dive into a steampunk fantasy story revealing the origin of the inventor known as Dreamfinder, and learn how one little spark of inspiration created a purple dragon called Figment!
Figment and Dreamfinder have saved the world but now find themselves in a time and place not their own! Out of time for over 100 years, old friends reunite, new challenges are met, and a brand new mystery unfolds. Dreamfinder’s greatest challenge lies ahead but will his own legacy be his undoing?
Freelance Vol. 1: Angel of the Abyss
(issues #1-4)
One of Canada’s original heroes is reborn for the Chapterhouse era. Lance Valiant is a fearless explorer who delves into the hidden secrets of our world to protect us from threats beyond imagination – but the greatest secret of all may be Lance’s own mysterious past!
From a Certain Point of View:
The Empire Strikes Back
Celebrate the legacy of the groundbreaking Star Wars sequel with this exciting reimagining of the timeless film. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers recreate an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists.
Wolverine is back – but where is he? Just as the X-Men have finally come to terms with Logan’s death, a terrible secret means old wounds are reopened, truths are questioned, and an epic quest begins across the Marvel Universe. But who will solve the puzzle first? With mystery in Madripoor and around the globe, the return of Wolverine will keep you guessing!
When Wolverine’s former alter ego Patch is sighted on the streets of Madripoor, the infamous island of ill repute, Kitty Pryde pulls together a group of Logan’s closest friends to try and find him: Storm, Rogue, Psylocke, Domino and Jubilee. What they discover is a twisted cabal of crime and dark mysteries that will take these X-Men from the depths of Lowtown to the stars circling overhead in the Hunt For Wolverine.
The events of the Infinity Countdown are felt across the Marvel Universe! Carol Danvers holds the Reality Stone – and with it meets the Captain Marvels of many worlds! Daredevil battles to keep Hell’s Kitchen safe from the influence of the Mind Stone! And the Champions fight in deep space for…the Chitauri!?
Seventy writers from across the creative spectrum bring their modern sensibilities to the classic format of Aesop’s 2,500-year-old fables. Zombies, dog-men, and robot wasps mingle with cats, coyotes, and cockroaches. But beware: in these terse explorations of desire, envy, and power, certitude isn’t always as clear as it looks.
Legendary storytellers tell new tales featuring classic heroes! Three savage sagas show exactly why Wolverine is the world’s most dangerous mutant — and the best there is! Then, the greatest creators the Great White North has to offer unearth the secret history of Alpha Flight with tales spotlighting the Canadian team’s most iconic lineup!
The comic book industry comes together to honor those killed in Orlando. This oversized comic contains moving and heartfelt material from some of the greatest talents in comics – mourning the victims, supporting the survivors, celebrating the LGBTQ community, and examining love in today’s world. All material has been kindly donated, from the creative to the production, with ALL PROCEEDS going to the victims, survivors and their families via EQUALITY FLORIDA.
Lower Your Sights is an anthology that focuses on the consequences of war, the peace/relief effort, and mental health. In addition to tales from today’s hottest creators, the collection includes art pieces and write-ups from numerous Ukrainian illustrators. All proceeds are being donated to the Ukrainian-based Voices of Children to provide psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by war.
Marvel’s characters face relevant and real-life issues alongside their extraordinary adventures – from grappling with alcoholism, to participating in politics, to celebrating diversity and everything in between! These powerful stories from Marvel’s 80-year history feature iconic heroes tackling heavy-hitting subjects including drug abuse, teen suicide, HIV, terrorism, school shootings and more!
As Requiem tears through the Marvel Universe, the very fabric of reality warps around the heroes of Earth…and the possibilities become infinite! Soldier Supreme, Iron Hammer, the Arachknight, Weapon Hex, Ghost Panther, and more uncanny twists on the heroes you know and love!
The heroes of the Infinity Warps return! When villains Madame Hel, Red Dormammu and Stane Odinson work together to cause a rift between Iron Hammer and Soldier Supreme, it leads to a crisis across space-time that brings together Weapon Hex, Ghost Panther, Arachknight and more to save their reality!
All-new stories leading directly into the highly anticipated game! Collects Marvel’s Avengers: Iron Man (2019) #1, Marvel’s Avengers: Thor (2020) #1, Marvel’s Avengers: Captain America (2020) #1, Marvel’s Avengers: Hulk (2020) #1, Marvel’s Avengers: Black Widow (2020) #1.
Today’s hottest Native American and Indigenous talent make their mark with stories that explore the rich heritage of Marvel’s incredible cast of Indigenous characters!
Marvel’s finest are caught off-guard by a monstrous invasion from the sky! An all-star line-up of heroes – including the Avengers, Champions, Guardians of the Galaxy, Inhumans, and X-Men – band together to battle behemoths in an attempt to save Earth from total destruction.
A bevy of comicdom’s finest creators put their mark upon the Fist of Khonshu in stories depicted solely in stark black, white and blood red! A blood moon is rising, and these stories look better than ever on the oversized pages of a Treasury Edition! Collecting MOON KNIGHT: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD #1-4.
Kill the monsters. Steal the treasure. Stab your buddy. Based on the immensely popular Steve Jackson card game, Munchkin comes to comics! Munchkin takes place in a mashup of genres. Originally a satire of fantasy roleplaying, it has since then taken on non-fantasy and non-gaming elements.
Ready. Set. Die! Hundreds are killed every year in an elaborate secret tournament run by a sadistic lunatic with nearly limitless resources at his fingertips. It’s not an urban legend. It’s not a myth. Murderworld is real! It’s online, and the gruesome truth has been hidden from everyone except its victims ― until now! This is the wildly violent ride you’ve been waiting for. Gut-wrenching twists, unbelievable deaths and the Avengers bloodier than you’ve ever seen them before.
Pathfinder Vol. 1
Dark Waters Rising
(issues #1-6 plus extras)
Paizo’s incredible award-winning fantasy world, fiction line, and tabletop RPG is now the ultimate fantasy comic from Dynamite Entertainment. With an action-packed story written by Jim Zub and detailed artwork by newcomer Andrew Huerta, this first volume introduces readers to a richly envisioned fantasy world filled with compelling characters and impressive sights.
Pathfinder Vol. 2
Of Tooth and Claw
(issues #7-12 plus extras)
When Valeros and his companions are tasked with tracking down a mysterious beast scaring the locals of Sandpoint, they find far more than they bargained for! A seemingly simple monster hunt becomes a twisted tale of danger and betrayal as the Cult of Lamashtu exacts its revenge on our iconic heroes.
Pathfinder Vol. 3
City of Secrets
(issues #1-6 plus extras)
The Pathfinder heroes head to Magnimar, and danger isn’t far behind. The dangers and opportunities of the big city could bring the adventurers closer together – or tear them apart! Ezren ambushed, Kyra targeted, Merisiel tempted by her past… will the group endure?
The goblins from Paizo’s Pathfinder RPG are pint-sized psychopaths, wreaking havoc across the land. Infamous for their unpredictable attacks, catchy raiding songs, hatred of dogs, and fear of horses, goblins blend mischief and murder like no other monsters. Collecting the entire Goblins comic book series, this fantastic collection includes an exclusive, eight-page bonus short story by Jim Zub.
Have sword, will travel! Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, journeys throughout the kingdoms and wilds of the Hyborian Age in search of riches and pleasure, food and ale… but more often than not, finds bloody violence and supernatural mayhem instead! Written and illustrated by some of the comic book industry’s greatest talents, including Michael Avon Oeming, Christos Gage, Dan Brereton, Nancy A. Collins, Jim Zub, Jonathan Lau, and many more!
Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons Deluxe Edition (hardcover)
#1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub, and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little bring you the comics crossover of the year now in a deluxe, hardcover collector’s edition! Featuring all eight issues of the hit series, plus a BRAND NEW story from Jim Zub and Troy Little featuring Mr. Meeseeks conquering The Forgotten Realms! Over 250 pages of monsters, mayhem, and a bag of holding worth of bonus materials.
#1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub, and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little bring you the comics crossover of the year now in a softcover omnibus edition! Featuring all eight issues of the hit series, plus a brand new story from Jim Zub and Troy Little featuring Mr. Meeseeks conquering The Forgotten Realms! Over 250 pages of monsters, mayhem, and bonus materials.
Two pop-culture juggernauts are teaming up and neither multiverse is prepared for what comes next! #1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub (Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur’s Gate, Skullkickers), and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little (Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) bring you the comics crossover of the year! It’s an irreverent, unexpected adventure sure to please fans of both franchises.
Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons II: Painscape
(issues #1-4)
Once upon a game, Rick, Morty and the Smith family went on magical D&D adventures…now, magical D&D adventures are coming to Earth, and no one will survive the Painscape! The world’s greatest role-playing game returns to plague the world’s most dysfunctional animated family!
When their home is infested by eldritch terror, Rick Sanchez and the Smith family traverse a Lovecraftian hellscape to track down and defeat the big guy himself: Cthulhu. On their journey through Arkham and realms beyond, they’re waylaid by literary monstrosities and characters obsessed with them—fighting hordes of fish-people, finding and losing love, battling sentient cosmic color, and taking potshots at ol’ H.P. along the way.
Samurai Jack:
Tales of the Wandering Warrior
(issues #1-20)
The legendary samurai known only as “Jack” is stranded in a strange future ruled by the demonic wizard, Aku. His quest to return to the past has tested him many times, but now the stakes are higher than ever. All 20 issues of the “Samurai Jack” comic book series written by Jim Zub with art by Andy Suriano, Brittany Williams, Ethen Beavers, Andy Kuhn, Sergio Quijada, and Christine Larsen are collected in this massive compendium.
Samurai Jack Vol. 1
The Threads of Time
(issues #1-5)
The legendary samurai known only as ‘Jack’ is stranded in a strange future ruled by the demonic wizard, Aku. His quest to return back to the past has tested him many times, but now the stakes are higher than ever. Can an ancient relic known as the Rope of Eons finally take him home?
Samurai Jack Vol. 2
The Scotsman’s Curse
(issues #6-10)
Jack’s journey to return to his own time continues as he teams up with old pal the Scotsman! Plus, a battle with a foe that controls the forces of gravity and Aku sends an opponent who unravels the thoughts and memories that make Jack a samurai.
Samurai Jack Vol. 3
The Quest For The Broken Blade
(issues #11-15)
After the Threads of Time failed to return Jack back to the past, he searches for a new way to return to his rightful era. But will Jack be willing to risk his magical blade in order to open a new portal to the past?
Samurai Jack Vol. 4
The Warrior-King
(issues #16-20)
Jack has travelled far and wide in order to find his way back to his own time. His journey continues as he tries to infiltrate the compound of the secretive man known as the “Master of Time.” Plus, battles with the spirits of the dead and the story of a scribe named Mako, chronicler of Jack’s possible legacy or future?
A chance violent encounter in Shadizar lands young Conan a position as a bodyguard for a wealthy merchant. But a twist of fate will put Conan in the hot seat — and no choice but to play the hand he’s dealt in a deadly game of Serpent’s Bluff!
Schlock Mercenary Vol. 10
Longshoreman of the Apocalypse
Their first job for their new employers is a glorified delivery run, and when things go predictably awry, Tagon’s Toughs can honestly point at the mess they did not make and say “This was not our fault.” Includes a bonus story by Jim Zub and Ben McSweeney
A crucial companion volume that expands on the events in Secret Empire! A new world order has arrived, but it’s not one that everybody agrees with. Not by a long shot! But what can be done about it? Prepare for the reign, the resistance…and the revolution! Starring some of the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe – including Black Widow, the Champions and the Uncanny Avengers!
Shadowman Vol. 3
Deadside Blues
(issues #0, 10-12)
The secret origin of all Shadowmen, past and present… Long ago, in the antebellum South, Master Darque’s evil spawned the one thing that could stop him: the Shadowman. Now, for the very first time, discover how the dark roots of the Darques’ depravity has intertwined with Shadowman for more than a century and the betrayal that forged them both in this collection of acclaimed tales from some of comics brightest talents.
Long before the dreaded Demogorgon took one of them to the Upside Down, watch Mike, Lucas, and Will bond with Dustin for the first time over the game that would define their childhood. See the party come together as a team through communal stories and perilous quests to learn important lessons about friendship and find the courage to stand up to the bullies that challenge their everyday.
(Full size hardcover) It’s Cammy White, the stinging bee of Street Fighter, in her own action-packed adventure! Cammy now leads the all-new special ops team “Delta Blue”, as they keep England and the world safe from destructive forces. Whether its art thieves, cyber assaults, or would-be world conquerors, Cammy and Delta Blue are ready to face the enemies of freedom and justice everywhere!
(Full size hardcover) All Ibuki wants is a normal Japanese high school experience, but her secret ninja life follows her everywhere she goes! With deadly ninja assassins, a crazy karate girl named Makoto, and the mysterious hermit Oro all on her case, she’ll be lucky if she even makes it to lunch hour in one piece! Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki is one part ninja action, one part high school antics, and 100% non-stop excitement! Also includes an all-new 6-page Ibuki story created exclusively for this volume!
(Digest-sized softcover) All Ibuki wants is a normal Japanese high school experience, but her secret ninja life follows her everywhere she goes! With deadly ninja assassins, a crazy karate girl named Makoto, and the mysterious hermit Oro all on her case, she’ll be lucky if she even makes it to lunch hour in one piece! Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki is one part ninja action, one part high school antics, and 100% non-stop excitement!
It’s the entire Street Fighter Legends series in a gorgeous, oversized format to catch every detail! Collecting the complete Sakura, Chun-li, and Ibuki comic series, this ultimate collection shows why the lovely ladies of Street Fighter deserve to be called Legends! Plus appearances from Ryu, Sagat, Dan, M. Bison, Karin, Makoto, Elena, and more of your favorites!
Presenting UDON’s Street Fighter IV comics, now available for the first time in an oversized, hardcover format! Newcomers like Crimson Viper, Rufus, Abel, and Seth battle fan-favorite characters including Sakura, Dan, Akuma, and more! Also includes an all-new, 6-page Ultra Street Fighter IV story created exclusively for this volume!
As Ryu sets out on a dangerous journey to control the dark energies within him, Guile, Cammy and Chun-li confront the remnants of Shadaloo to reveal the truth about Gill’s mysterious Secret Society. It’s classic Street Fighter warriors at the start of an epic new world-spanning adventure! Collects Issues #1-4 of the Street Fighter Unlimited ongoing comic series, including bonus stories, variant covers, and an all-new 6-page story created exclusively for this volume!
Our world belongs to the Crime Syndicate! With Forever Evil sweeping across the DC Universe, the Suicide Squad find themselves in a world full of villians now free from their shackles — Belle Reve! Includes the Amanda Waller Special story by Jim Zub.
James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad gathers the weirdest and wildest cast of characters in superhero movie history–this new collection featuring debut and key appearances of Bloodsport, Mongal, Polka-Dot Man, King Shark, Weasel, the Thinker, and Amanda Waller herself, the government agent behind Task Force X. Collects Superman #4, #170, Detective Comics #300, Superboy #9, The Fury of Firestorm #38, Suicide Squad Vol. 4 #25, Vigilante #36, and Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1.
The Super Secret Crisis War spreads into the worlds of Johnny Bravo, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Cow & Chicken, and Codename Kids Next Door!
Street Fighter returns to comics in an all-new, original, hardcover graphic novel series! Fan-favorites like Ryu, Sakura, Ken, and Guile are joined by newcomers Alex, Juri, Dudley, Hakan, and more for all-out excitement and pulse-pounding battles! Super Street Fighter Volume 1 starts the World Warriors on the path to their greatest challenges yet!
With Ryu captured by Urien and the Secret Society, Guile, Alex, Dan, and Sakura have all set out to rescue the world’s greatest fighter! Features appearances by Akuma, Cammy, Juri, R.Mika, Poison, and many more fan-favorite characters from every generation of Street Fighter!
Thunderbolts (2016) Vol. 1
There Is No High Road
(Issues #1-6)
From the pages of Avengers Standoff! They’re a renegade team rampaging across the Marvel Universe under the direction of the Winter Soldier! But are the Thunderbolts heroes or villains-and do even they know for sure?
Thunderbolts (2016) Vol. 2
No Going Back
(Issues #7-12)
If you operate in the shadows long enough, someone is going to shine a light on you. But Bucky didn’t think that person would be his best friend, Steve Rogers! Captured and separated from his team, Bucky is on his own. Where do his loyalties lie? Steve wants to know. The only thing is, Steve has secrets of his own…
Redeeming justice, like lightning! In the aftermath of Devil’s Reign, the Big Apple has big problems, and it’s up to a new group of Thunderbolts to turn things around. But when Clint Barton is tasked with heading up this squad, the first opponent he’s going to have to face…is himself.
Tony Stark: Iron Man Omnibus
(Tony Stark: Iron Man #1-19,
Iron Man 2020 #1-6)
Iron Man…is an idea. Always changing. Always evolving. Now, the ultimate self-made hero is reaching new heights of inventiveness! But Tony has been holding back an enormous secret since his return, and it will change everything! Stark’s new virtual world, the eScape, seems like a paradise – but who controls the eScape? And who controls Iron Man?
Tony Stark: Iron Man Vol. 2
Stark Realities
(Issues #6-11)
Iron Man isn’t just a suit. It’s an idea, born of a genius. And in a place where thought and existence are one and the same, where Tony Stark’s imagination is unchecked, what kind of terrifying, all-powerful Iron Man will be born?! Reality, the cyberscape and Tony Stark’s heart, mind and soul at stake!
Tony Stark: Iron Man Vol. 3
War of the Realms
(issues #12-14, Iron Man (1998) #25)
Iron Man joins the War of the Realms! A war needs weapons — and Tony Stark once vowed he’d never build weapons again! So why is he hunkered down with Screwbeard the Dwarf in Avengers Mountain? And what is he making? Struggling against ancient mystical forces, Tony battles an ancient winged calamity with the lives of everyone at Stark Unlimited hanging in the balance!
Tony Stark: Iron Man Vol. 4
The Ultron Agenda
(issues #15-19)
The Ultron Agenda is here! Watch out, Iron Man, the robot uprising of the Marvel Universe has begun! But it’s not Ultron leading the charge…it’s Machine Man?! The A.I.s are on the attack – and they might be in the right, as robotic and A.I. rights are being threatened in America. Battle lines are drawn, and it’s time for Tony Stark, Jocasta, Andy Bhang and the rest of the crew to pick sides!
Unbreakable Red Sonja
(issues #1-5 + Red Sonja and Cub)
Red Sonja carries a hazy vision that lurks just out of reach in her memories. The answer to that mysterious moment will unlock a journey of forbidden magic and searing steel as Sonja’s past and present collide in a quest beyond anything our scarlet-haired hero has faced before!”
Wanda Maximoff has returned to the Avengers at last! But not everyone on the team is happy about it. Will the team be split down the middle by the arrival of the Scarlet Witch? And as the Unity Squad faces this challenge to group harmony head-on, an old enemy makes their explosive return at the worst possible time! The lives of our heroes will be turned upside down by friend and foe alike!
Global best-selling RPG phenomena, Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse are captured together for the first time in a complete omnibus edition, featuring Vampire: The Masquerade Winter’s Teeth #1-#10 and the crossover Vampire: The Masquerade and World of Darkness: Crimson Thaw event #1-#3!
Wakanda: World of Black Panther Omnibus
(Issues #26-30)
The wondrous nation of Wakanda is full of stories — whether they star the Black Panther, his staunchest allies or his fiercest foes! Relive the rise of T’Challa through tragedy and triumph!
Momoko was a typical Japanese teenager with dreams of becoming a famous pop idol, until an alien powersuit transformed her into the spectacular Wonder Momo! This cosmic hero punches, kicks, and hula hoops her way through monsters, henchmen, robots, and her most dangerous foe… the dreaded paparazzi!
Follow the artistic development of the Exalted tabletop RPG from its earliest concept art to its current second edition splendor. Along the way, you’ll see the world of Exalted come alive through the talents of the industry’s best artists, including Chris Stevens, Hyung-Tae Kim, Adam Warren and many, many more.
Darkstalkers, Capcom’s horror/anime fight-fest video game property, is a fan-favorite among gamers worldwide. Now illustrators, animators, comic artists, manga creators, pros and fans alike have come together to produce nearly 300 pages of all-new artwork celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Darkstalkers franchise. This video game art gallery is packed with beastly creatures, sexy temptresses, and a hefty helping of inspiration, energy, and excitement!
In the now-grand tradition of Hero Initiative’s previous and wildly successful 100 Project books, Mike Mignola’s signature creation comes to the fore! ALL of Hero’s original covers to Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1952 #1 are on display in this great book.
Hundreds of artists from around the world join forces to pay homage to one of the most iconic figures in gaming with Mega Man Tribute! It’s the ultimate celebration of the blue bomber, featuring the characters of Mega Man classic, Mega Man X, Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX, and Mega Man Legends in every style you can imagine!
Fine art meets martial arts! UDON Entertainment’s Street Fighter Tribute is a special volume of original illustrations from artists all around the globe, professionals and fans alike, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Street Fighter franchise.
The Turtles take center stage in Hero Initiative’s famous “100 Project” format! IDW created a limited number of blank variant covers for the landmark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #50, and Hero Initiative sent them to 100+ top artists to create original covers! Proceeds benefit Hero Initiative, the only charity dedicated to helping comic book creators in medical or financial need!
Collecting over 10 years of UDON’s Capcom artwork in one epic 600-page hardcover volume! UDON’s Art of Capcom: Complete Edition gathers more than 80 UDON artists’ renditions of the cast of Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Rival Schools, Mega Man, Strider, and other classic Capcom franchises. Included are comic covers, toy designs, video game sprites, game box art, tribute art, and much more!
For the past decade, UDON has captured the imagination of fans worldwide with only the best in pop culture illustration. Now the artists of UDON let their own creative visions loose in an all-new original anthology artbook. VENT features original stories, dozens of never-before-seen illustrations, and extensive tutorials revealing the secrets behind both the traditional and digital creative techniques of the UDON crew.
Robert Kirkman and Skybound team up with the Hero Initiative charity to present 100 all-new covers envisioning the horrors of the bestselling The Walking Dead. This art book features brand-new sketch cover pieces by The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Paolo Rivera, Ryan Ottley, Rafael Albuquerque, and many more!
Jim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past twenty years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Marvel, DC Comics, Disney, Capcom, Hasbro, Cartoon Network, and Bandai-Namco.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and a professor teaching drawing and storytelling courses in Seneca Polytechnic’s award-winning Animation program.
His current comic projects include Conan the Barbarian, the monthly adventures of Robert E. Howard’s legendary sword & sorcery hero, and Dungeons & Dragons, the official comic series of the world’s most popular tabletop role-playing game.
For media/licensing inquiries related to any of Jim’s creator-owned properties, please contact:
ARTIFICERS & ALCHEMY, the latest Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guide, launches on April 16th. It’s incredible to me that the original 2-book proposal I developed with Adam Lee at Wizards of the Coast and the team at Ten Speed Press is now up to book eight (and that doesn’t even include reprint volumes like the Creature Compendium), with hopefully many more to come.
Stacy has been doing a lot of heavy lifting on our latest volumes, Andrew Wheeler has been an integral part of our writing process and both of them have upcoming solo-written D&D books of their own that should also be on your radar – Stacy’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS POCKET EXPERT and Andrew’s PUNCHEONS & FLAGONS books both arrive in August – Pre-order now!
The number of people who have reached out to let us know how helpful the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides have been in demystifying the way TTRPG narratives work, generating character and adventure ideas, and bringing new people into the hobby has been so, so heartwarming. If you’ve never seen the YAG’s before, I go through how they work in this Frequently Asked Questions post.
Our latest book is all about making magic items and constructs. Here’s the official summary: Featuring amazing illustrations and expert insights, Artificers & Alchemy explores peculiar phenomena, sentient weapons, guardian gear, and the artificers who create these enchanted objects. If you’re eager to start your own D&D adventures, this guidebook provides the perfect starting point to creating worlds of fantasy and weaving an epic story all your own.
We also dig into:
• Conan as a character and the Hyborian Age.
• How Marvel first got the Conan license to make the comics.
• The literary and comic book origins of Red Sonya/Red Sonja.
• Working with Gail Simone and Dan Panosian on the Conan-Red Sonja crossover mini-series in 2015. Give it a listen!
Battle of the Black Stone, our upcoming 2024 Conan event, is a different take on a Robert E. Howard character crossover adventure, but it would not have been possible without everything I learned on Serpent War and the hard work of our creative team here under the guidance of Marvel editor Mark Basso.
Learn how comics are made for the price of a fancy coffee. There are now over 300 scripts (plus pitches, Q&A’s and more) in my Patreon archive.
This week I settled plans to attend San Diego Comic Con again this year and, keeping the D&D 50th anniversary momentum going, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be at Gen Con in August and Gamehole Con in October.
• My friend Cecil Castellucci has a new crowdfunding campaign for a comic and performance art piece collaborating with 25 artists on a project called I Am The Comic. Check it out!
• My friend Paul Cornell is funding a fun graphic novel on Zoop called Who Killed Nessie? and it’s got a great pitch – “Every year, legendary creatures from all over the world gather for an annual convention. But never has there been a murder.”
• Chaosium is funding an impressive looking Lovecraftian board game based on Horror On The Orient Express and it’s already smashing funding goals.
• I’m enjoying watching episodes of the Anti-Chef Youtube Channel as he goes through Julia Child’s famous cookbooks to learn new techniques. Inspiring and amusing.
A fellow writer asked how I prepped for writing Sacrifice in the Sand, the prose short story in SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #1 (and the advice I sent applies to writing the new Conan comic series as well), so I thought I’d share that here:
— Glad you enjoyed my story in Savage Sword. It was certainly a challenge, but I’m glad I was able to contribute something a bit different to the relaunch of a series that means so much to so many readers, myself included.
Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan and many other literary characters, wrote over 300 short stories, with just over 20 of them centered on Conan. Before I sat down to try and write a new Conan short story, I re-read all the original Conan tales (and quite a few of his other short stories as well) with a pad of paper and pencil close at hand so I could quickly jot down specific lines of narration or dialogue that spoke to me – the way Howard used language and created flow in his sentences, the lyrical and poetic quality of his words. I didn’t copy any of them in my own story, but I wanted to better understand what made them read the way they did to try and emulate that while writing an original tale.
By listing unexpected or unusual words Howard used to paint a scene and highlighting bits of action I felt were effective at generating momentum and noting down other aspects of structure and pacing, I was able to use that as a baseline of inspiration to build on in my own work.
If I was writing a longer prose story I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to focus on each and every sentence quite as much, but with a short story like this I could really pore over each piece to try and summon that pulpy feel as much as possible. With a bit of luck I’ll get the chance to create more down the road.
—
Reading for research is different from reading for pleasure and it’s a crucial part of getting ready for any project, especially when I’m building on existing work and well-established worlds.
Two other useful bits of writing advice:
1) Read your writing out loud.
Hearing writing spoken aloud can work wonders for catching mistakes, adding clarity, finding unwanted repetition, giving characters distinct voices, and improving flow.
2) Get an editor and/or trusted reader.
An editor is there to enhance what works and help fix what doesn’t – copyedits, advice, cheerleading. Big picture and small details. A pre-release reader may catch mistakes, but their role tends to be first impression and overall clarity.
If you’re just starting out or losing steam while trying to build up your writing skills, finding (or founding) a ‘creative circle’ to act as trusted readers for each other can be extremely helpful. Set creative goals and motivate each other to meet them. Read work from your peers to help them out and learn from them at the same time.
Starting Your Journey In The Hyborian Age
Speaking of source material, with all the excitement around Conan right now, quite a few people have asked me where to start when it comes to Conan prose stories, since there are 90 years worth of published stories by dozens of authors to choose from.
The original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard are the foundational bedrock of the Hyborian Age and the sword & sorcery genre. Since those tales were written for Weird Tales magazine, almost all of them are short stories that can be read in one sitting. They’re quick and engaging bursts of action and atmosphere.
I quite like the Del Rey three book Conan collection (in print or e-book) that includes every short story and story fragment along with in-depth annotations and some great art. That said, I’m not an ‘edition collector’ and don’t have exhaustive knowledge of Conan books in print, so if there are other great editions currently available, please let me (and other people here) know.
If you want to start reading Conan stories, don’t be intimidated or overwhelmed by the amount of material out there. The character and world is incredibly easy to jump into because the core premise is so straight forward: Conan is a wandering warrior in a pre-historic time of swords, sorcery, danger and mystery. Wherever he goes, adventure and excitement is sure to follow.
There are all kinds of other details that I and other people working on the property keep track of, but you as the reader don’t need to know or memorize any of it, especially when starting out. Just dive in and enjoy.
When it comes to writing the new Conan comics, the original REH prose stories are the only absolute canon. Everything else, from additional novels, comics, games, movies or other media, are ‘in play’ if we want, but not required. Using material from them is an Easter Egg or knowing nods for the fandom, not pillars of continuity.
Nods To The Past
Speaking of knowing nods (and with slight spoilers for Conan the Barbarian #9), Conan the Cimmerian and Kull the Conqueror duke it out in our latest issue and I couldn’t let such a momentous clash pass by without tipping my hat to writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema who did it first in Conan the Barbarian #68 from 1976.
The whys and wherefores around the two confrontations are totally different, but I managed to weave a couple narrative parallels in for my own amusement.
• Secret of NIMH is one of my favorite animated films, but I had no idea that Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and the crew sourced action from other films. It’s not rotoscoped (traced), but you can see that the shot choices and timing are tightly referenced from live action sources, almost certainly films they enjoyed in their youth.
• I like this digital painting video from artist Hardy Fowler. Some great techniques in there and good chatter about deciding who a painting is for and staying motivated.
Three days after getting back from the Founders & Legends-Gary Con 9 day gaming event marathon, I’m still recovering. There are mountains of emails to catch up on and deadlines galore. The next four weeks is looking to be an absolute sprint, but that’s okay because I had a fantastic time at both shows.
Old friends and new. Old games and new.
So much enthusiasm. So many amazing people.
What an absolute joy it was to be part of the big celebration.
I’ve got dozens of amazing anecdotes and trying to summarize it all means I’ll definitely miss some key things, but here are a few of the many high points:
• I playtested my new AD&D 1st edition adventure called “The Crucible” four times over the week, three times with strangers who signed up to play and once with an all-star adventuring party of friends. It was an honor and a blast watching these groups puzzle their way through the tricks and traps I put together. I definitely want to keep building on this foundation and run it again at future tabletop gaming events.
• Playing a cursed marine named Private Zoob in a wonderfully tragic one-shot session of the Mothership RPG, a twisted scenario called Moonbase Blues.
• Trying out Keith Baker‘s upcoming strategic card game called Glim.
• Sketching a first edition-style Rust Monster as part of the Gary Con Artist Jam.
• Late night chatter with The Dungeon Dudes all about the good old-bad old days of tabletop RPGs, before smartphones and social media.
• Making Chris Perkins cackle and get verklempt in the same conversation as we waxed nostalgic.
• Gossip and good times with Erik Mona, Jeff Richards, and Joshua Dinges, nightcaps before we crashed and started it all over again, day after day, game after game.
A History Unfathomed
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #9, the first part of THE AGE UNCONQUERED, arrived today at comic shops nationwide.
Surprises and action aplenty, my friends. Get your copy today! Cannot wait for you to see how it all plays out, with line art by Rob De La Torre, colors by Dean White, and letters by Richard Starkings.
In many ways, this is the biggest issue since our launch, using momentum built in Conan #0-8 to propel us to the end of our first year.
And yes, that says “first year”. We’re not hitting the reset button after issue 12 or anything like that. I have many more stories to tell in the Hyborian Age and our crew is already deep into work on arc 4 and beyond, plus Savage Sword magazine and Conan: Battle of the Black Stone.
If wonderful fans like you keep buying, reading and sharing your excitement, this new era of Conan will keep conquering!
Art of Storytelling Interview Clips
Proko has posted up some new clips from footage I filmed as part of Marvel’s The Art of Storytelling comic creation course. Watch and share:
What makes comics so special as a medium?
Why do I like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange so much?
• I made this Chicken Scallopini recipe and it turned out great. I normally use thighs for most chicken recipes, but chicken breast worked really well with this one.
This young warrior’s name is Conan! He’s not quite ready for Venarium, but I’m sure he’ll get his first sword soon.
This past weekend was Emerald City Comic Con, my first convention of 2024, and it was an incredible experience. ECCC is usually a sharp show, with excited comic fans aplenty and a solid guest list of professional pals, but this year had more sparkle than usual.
At New York Comic-Con back in October I had a few old school Conan the Barbarian fans come to my table to tell me how much they were enjoying the new series. This time, with 5 more issues and the first trade paperback released and months of good word of mouth across the industry, it was a steady stream of readers, many of them collectors from the 1970’s, lining up in front of my table with praise and hearty handshakes as we talked about everyone’s favorite Cimmerian and the incredible artwork Rob De La Torre and Doug Braithwaite are unleashing each issue. In addition to longtime fans, there were plenty of new readers too, many who said they had wanted to check out Conan for years but didn’t know where to start. The new series grabbed their attention and now they were looking at back issues and collections to dig in even more.
It was an intense and heartfelt experience and it kept happening in person over and over, every day of the show, while at the same time my social media was blowing up with photos, compliments, and strong reviews for Savage Sword of Conan #1 and Conan the Barbarian #8, which both arrived in comic shops on Wednesday. I was taken aback by all of it in the best way possible.
This isn’t meant as an ego thing, I swear. I just want to mark this moment and thank everyone for their abundant enthusiasm.
Taking it even higher, on Friday morning the nomination list for the 2023 Robert E. Howard Awards went public and I found out that the new Conan comic is up for two possible awards: THE COSTIGAN – for literary achievement
THE RANKIN – for artistic achievement
I’m thrilled that The Robert E. Howard Foundation, a dedicated group of scholars and conservators of the man’s work, has recognized our series. It’s an honor to contribute to such an important literary legacy and bring new fans into the fold.
I’ve been writing Conan stories since 2015 and this is the first time I’ve been nominated by the Foundation, so that’s a pretty special milestone. Fan engagement at the show and the REH Foundation nominations hitting at the same time was an incredible jolt of excitement. It feels like we’re tapping into the bedrock that made the original stories so engaging and helped launch the sword & sorcery genre over 90 years ago.
Off the show floor, lots of great meals and conversations with friends, some karaoke and a few pints to celebrate another year on the convention circuit.
My good friend Jody Houser was hit with an inner ear infection that brought on intense bouts of vertigo Friday evening and that necessitated a group of us skipping out on social stuff to help take care of her, but even in the swirl of all that there was a throughline of friendship and looking out for each other that reaffirmed how much I enjoy doing these events and being part of this industry.
When Google Drive launched, I was an early adopter and it was an absolute gamechanger.
The document I had on hand was always the latest, saving me from version numbering and worrying about losing work. Having every single story I’d written saved locally on my laptop simultaneously backed up on the cloud and my desktop computer at home meant I could work flexibly and fearlessly. A bit of writing done at the airport or on a flight would update all versions as soon as I connected to wifi or settled in at a hotel.
It was simple, elegant, and made sense…so, of course, it couldn’t stay that way.
Now, the files in my Google Drive folder will not open without current active internet running, which means I can’t continue working on a project on a flight or check older files as reference when I’m on the go. Why? No idea. The full-size file is sitting there in the folder saved locally taking up hard drive space and the prompt says it’s all up to date, but now I click on it and it just loads endlessly until it crashes because of…reasons, some new bloated complicated process running under the hood that acts as an unnecessary barrier between me and the file that didn’t used to be there.
It’s so frustrating.
The people building this stuff have stopped using their own products and, in turn, have forgotten what it was supposed to do in the first place. Endless spyware, subscriptions, or hidden processes for less efficient, less elegant, less productive everything.
Coffee & Heroes – Part 1
A few weeks ago, I had a wonderful time talking with the owners of Coffee & Heroes in Ireland all about my career in comics. It was a great chat and covered so much ground that they’re splitting it into 3 parts.
Here’s part 1, where we cover nerdy reading with my brother, my influences, the things I did before comic writing, sword & sorcery as a genre, tabletop RPGs, superheroes and Vertigo books, serialized entertainment, the struggles of launching and maintaining Skullkickers, being typecast, and more!
• The second Thunder Road: Vendetta board game Kickstarter is on now. I really enjoyed the base game (it’s basically Mad Max as a board game) and being able to snag a new expansions and other exclusive additions here is enticing.
• J.L. Collins let me know that the crowdfund campaign for Thistle, a new fantasy comic series, is now underway. I read an advance of the first issue and it looks like it’s channeling classic elements with a bit of a twist.
Have a great week, everyone!
Jim
This coming week is absolutely packed for me- CONAN THE BARBARIAN #8, the wild conclusion of our second story arc, Thrice Marked For Death. SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #1, a grand return to black & white magazine-sized glory. EMERALD CITY COMIC CON, my first convention of 2024 and always one of my favorite conventions each year. Will I see you there?
BRING IT ON!
My Pulpy Prose
If you do snag a copy of the new Savage Sword, 80 pages of bold barbaric goodness for $6.99, let me know what you think of Sacrifice In The Sand, my prose short story.
It’s a wonderful illustration and also a fun synthesis of pulp and silent film influences coming together to create a new look for an iconic character. It’s so great!
The Public Lending Right
Last week I received my Canadian Public Lending Right payment for 2024. For the past five years, I’ve been compensated for books I wrote that circulate in Canadian libraries. There are over 18,000 Canadian authors registered in the program.
The average payout per title found in their database is $49 and, as long as those books are in libraries, they will pay out for the next 25 years.
I have 52 books registered. Do the math.
If you’re a Canadian author, it is worth the effort to get enrolled and update your profile with new titles as you release new books.
Authors are giddy when royalties pay on their backlist work. The Public Lending Right is like an extra royalty payment every February for published Canadian authors and illustrators from the Canada Council For The Arts.
For five years I’ve beat the drum about this, and yet I still hear from some prolific Canadian comic creators that they haven’t gotten around to getting their profile set up yet – You. Are. Missing. Out.
Some quick tips for Canadian comic creators registering for the PLR:
• You’ll need the ISBN, year of publication, and page count for each book you register.
• You’ll also need a photocopy of the title page of the book with your name and a photocopy of the copyright page.
• For graphic novels, writers get 50% of the “share claim” since the other half would go to the illustrator (even if they can’t claim it because they’re not Canadian).
• Anthologies don’t count. If there are more than six contributors to a title it’s considered ineligible.
• Each year all you have to add are new titles that weren’t on there previous years.
A Return To Rogues
I returned as a guest on the wonderful Rogues In The House podcast. We chatted up a storm about the return of Savage Sword and talk about the ‘moment’ Conan seems to be having right now in comics, prose, games, and more.
• My buddy John Barber has a new creator-owned comic project launching called SIGNA and it’s looking good!
• Rafal Jaki, the showrunner on the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, reached out to chat storytelling with me. he also pointed me toward the new manga series he’s been developing called NO/NAME. It’s a really neat concept off to a strong start, read chapter 1 here, so much so that it’s going to be serializing in Shonen Jump!
Wait a sec, newsletter #50! Oh geez, this should be some kind of anniversary-sized special release…Bigger page count and a higher cover price, right?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay double for this installment, my friends…Double that $0.00 price tag and I’ll make sure you get everything you paid for. 😉
My longtime collaborator Max Dunbar and I put together a single page story for the anthology right at the start and have kept it under wraps this whole time, hoping the campaign would complete delivery to the many people who backed it in good faith, but that now seems incredibly unlikely, so here’s DELVE, a little fantasy story created during lockdown, with hopeful sentiments about the future despite dark times-
Story and Lettering by Jim Zub. Line Art and Colors by Max Dunbar.
Haunted By That Slogan
I had a really bizarre dream earlier in the week-
In the dream, the Wisconsin dairy council asked me to write an epic based on a new dairy superhero they developed called MIGHTY MILK.
I had to include their new slogan “Milk is also in man”.
I told them the slogan was awful. They told me it was mythic and powerful.
The rep kept saying the slogan slowly, emphasizing different words-
“Milk is also in man.”
“Yeah, I get it, but it’s still awful.”
I told them I probably wasn’t the right fit for this project, but they were insistent that it had to be me. Like most dreams, it just vaporized unresolved, but I wanted to share so all of us could be haunted by it together from now on.
Honoring the Past
Hayden Mears from Starburst Magazine (the longest-running magazine of fantastic media) and I talked at length about Conan the Barbarian as an icon of prose and comics. There’s a lot of good ground covered here in terms of Conan’s pulp roots, mythic storytelling, Robert E. Howard as an architect of the original ‘multiverse’ concept, and how our creative team is trying to honor that in the new comic series-
A Page (and Series) I Love
On Thursday night on Comic Art Live they ran a piece I recorded with Kevin Sharp for a segment called A PAGE I LOVE-
I dug deep into my excitement for DOCTOR STRANGE #55 Page 13 from 1982, a stone cold classic written by Roger Stern and illustrated by Michael Golden:
Doctor Strange #55 is a masterclass in writing and drawing superhero comics, a done-in-one story that delivers on every page. You can still find it in back issue bins for cheap, which is great, because everyone should have a copy and every aspiring creator should study the hell out of it.
Doctor Strange is a bucket list character for me to write, and a big part of that is due to the quality of this era. Editorial can sometimes be cagey about giving writers their favorite characters because sometimes they’re such diehard fans that they don’t want to take big narrative swings or shake up the status quo, but if I ever get the chance to pitch on Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme I think I could honor the past while pushing out in unexpected directions.
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Makeshift Miracle